D-DAY events organisers were dealt a major blow as the RAF grounded its WW2 planes indefinitely.
Top brass yesterday banned the entire fleet over safety fears following a fatal Spitfire crash last week.
Spitfires, Hurricane fighters and Lancaster bombers were to be central to next week’s 80th D-Day anniversary celebrations.
Veterans taking a ferry to France on Tuesday were to be honoured with a Spitfire flypast.
The aircraft were also set to salute vets in Portsmouth on Wednesday and at the British Normandy Memorial as well as the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire during Thursday’s anniversary.
Ex-BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell, now founder of the British Normandy Memorial Trust, said: “It’s a great shame.
“It was intended there would be a flyover by the World War Two planes then by the Red Arrows at the end. Obviously, it’s been a tragic week.”
Squadron Leader Mark Long was killed when his Mk 9 Spitfire crashed seconds after take-off last Saturday from RAF Coningsby, Lincs.
The cause remains a mystery.
An RAF spokesman said: “It has been decided to continue a pause in flying.
“Flight safety remains our primary concern.”
